"Deplorable"

The working theory at the Capitol has been that the Senate GOP had a role in shortchanging Westchester County, among others, on school aid in the state budget as retribution for Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins’ defeat last fall of Westchester Republican Nick Spano.

A group of Assembly Republicans today didn’t make any effort to dispel that notion. They released a proposed $32 million aid fix for Rochester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, and decried the role politics played in shortchanging them.

â€œShortchanging our kids because of politics is deplorable,” said Assemblyman Mike Spano, R-Yonkers.Â “Under my plan, politics are taken out of the formula so that all school districts are treated fairly and equitably.â€

And from Greg Ball, R-Carmel:

â€œWestchester is the highest taxed county.Â Putnam and Dutchess are not far behind.Â Despite this yearâ€™s state budget being bloated and imprudent, the residents of these counties should not be penalized by Albanyâ€™s backroom dealing.Â That is exactly what happened.â€